--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I wouldn't change one thing about my…" description: "\"I wouldn't change one thing about my professional life, and I make it a point not to dwell on my mistakes\" — Ethel Merman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1e/ethel-merman-11612_life_i-wouldn-t-change-one-thing-about-my-pro_2177459.png" --- # I wouldn't change one thing about my professional life… ![“I wouldn't change one thing about my professional life, and I make it a point not to dwell on my mistakes” quote by Ethel Merman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1e/ethel-merman-11612_life_i-wouldn-t-change-one-thing-about-my-pro_2177459.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1e/ethel-merman-11612_life_i-wouldn-t-change-one-thing-about-my-pro_2177459.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1e/ethel-merman-11612_life_i-wouldn-t-change-one-thing-about-my-pro_2177459.png) > “I wouldn't change one thing about my professional life, and I make it a point not to dwell on my mistakes” [Ethel Merman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-merman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She accepts her career as is, avoiding dwelling on mistakes. **In simple terms:** She’s content with her career and doesn’t ruminate. Key Takeaway Embrace successes, let go of regrets. Themes acceptance career confidence self‑compassion Mood confident reflective Type motivational personal When to use this quote - career retrospection - public speaking - coaching Key Concepts personal growth professional identity Questions to Reflect On - What mistakes have taught you the most? - How can you turn past errors into future strengths? A Different Perspective May ignore valuable lessons from errors. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [Mistakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistakes/) [My mistakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-mistakes/) [Professional life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/professional-life/) ## Related quotes > [I wouldn't change a thing - except my bank balance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-thunders/i-wouldn-t-change-a-thing-except-my-bank-balance/) [Johnny Thunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-thunders/) > [I wouldn't change a thing in my life, even if I could. What you go through makes you who you are and that's fine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-winstone/i-wouldn-t-change-a-thing-in-my-life-even-if-i-could-what-you-go/) [Ray Winstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-winstone/) > [To be honest, I wouldn't change a thing, cos' I like me the way I am. That's the way I was made and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-prinze-jr-2/to-be-honest-i-wouldn-t-change-a-thing-cos-i-like-me-the-way-i-am/) [Freddie Prinze Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-prinze-jr-2/) > [I wouldn't change a thing about my family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/i-wouldn-t-change-a-thing-about-my-family/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [It's very rare I'll watch anything I'm a part of and think, 'I wouldn't change a thing.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-harrison/it-s-very-rare-i-ll-watch-anything-i-m-a-part-of-and-think-i-wouldn-t/) [Chris Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-harrison/) > [When you do what I've done - the normal Hollywood way, where you let people do things for you - and then you make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-baldwin/when-you-do-what-i-ve-done-the-normal-hollywood-way-where-you-let/) [Stephen Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-baldwin/) > [Someone asked me, the other day, that if I could change five things about my life, what would I change? My answer: nothing this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu/someone-asked-me-the-other-day-that-if-i-could-change-five-things/) [Ritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu/) > [If I was to do it all over again, I wouldn't change a thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-hull/if-i-was-to-do-it-all-over-again-i-wouldn-t-change-a-thing/) [Bobby Hull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-hull/) > [I absolutely don't care about my looks and I'm so used to them that I wouldn't change a thing. I would end up missing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-firth/i-absolutely-don-t-care-about-my-looks-and-i-m-so-used-to-them-that-i/) [Colin Firth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-firth/) > [People often ask whether you'd alter anything about your life. I can honestly say I wouldn't change a thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alun-wyn-jones/people-often-ask-whether-you-d-alter-anything-about-your-life-i-can/) [Alun Wyn Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alun-wyn-jones/) > [If I had to do it over, I wouldn't change a thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-sheehan/if-i-had-to-do-it-over-i-wouldn-t-change-a-thing/) [Billy Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-sheehan/) > [I'll never truly understand why certain things happen but I wouldn't change a thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bay/i-ll-never-truly-understand-why-certain-things-happen-but-i-wouldn-t/) Bay > [“I wouldn’t change a thing Because all those things led me to this place And to you”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-eulberg/i-wouldn-t-change-a-thing-because-all-those-things-led-me-to-this/) [Elizabeth Eulberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-eulberg/) > [When somebody says I wouldn't change a thing they're thinking of something they would change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dane-cook/when-somebody-says-i-wouldn-t-change-a-thing-they-re-thinking-of/) [Dane Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dane-cook/) > [Don't dwell on mistakes, because it will only cause more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-crotty/don-t-dwell-on-mistakes-because-it-will-only-cause-more/) Ned Crotty ## More by Ethel Merman > [You'll never prove you're too good for a job by not doing your best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-merman/you-ll-never-prove-you-re-too-good-for-a-job-by-not-doing-your-best/) [Ethel Merman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-merman/) > [I attend surprisingly few shows. The type of theater that is popular today just doesn't appeal to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-merman/i-attend-surprisingly-few-shows-the-type-of-theater-that-is-popular/) [Ethel Merman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-merman/) > [At a flea market I always head for the junk jewelry table first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-merman/at-a-flea-market-i-always-head-for-the-junk-jewelry-table-first/) [Ethel Merman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-merman/) > [The only things I read are gossip columns. If I read three pages of a book, I'm out like a light. When I pick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-merman/the-only-things-i-read-are-gossip-columns-if-i-read-three-pages-of-a/) [Ethel Merman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-merman/) > [I've never suffered stage fright. That fascinates people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-merman/i-ve-never-suffered-stage-fright-that-fascinates-people/) [Ethel Merman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-merman/) > [You gotta have a gimmick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-merman/you-gotta-have-a-gimmick/) [Ethel Merman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-merman/) > [I'll admit - I was honored to be on the cover of Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-merman/i-ll-admit-i-was-honored-to-be-on-the-cover-of-time/) [Ethel Merman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-merman/) > [My father taught me to read music and play the piano-but not well, even though people have said that I'm a natural musician](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-merman/my-father-taught-me-to-read-music-and-play-the-piano-but-not-well/) [Ethel Merman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-merman/) > [I've made a wonderful living playing that theatrical character - the professional brassy dame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-merman/i-ve-made-a-wonderful-living-playing-that-theatrical-character-the/) [Ethel Merman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-merman/) > [Cole Porter had a worldwide reputation as a sophisticate and hedonist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-merman/cole-porter-had-a-worldwide-reputation-as-a-sophisticate-and-hedonist/) [Ethel Merman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-merman/) > [Broadway has been very good to me. But then, I've been very good to broadway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-merman/broadway-has-been-very-good-to-me-but-then-i-ve-been-very-good-to/) [Ethel Merman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-merman/) > [I've never cooked. I can't do much more in the kitchen than make a cup of tea and some toast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-merman/i-ve-never-cooked-i-can-t-do-much-more-in-the-kitchen-than-make-a-cup/) [Ethel Merman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-merman/) > [As far as dramas are concerned, it's considered passe for playwrights to turn out anything the average person can understand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-merman/as-far-as-dramas-are-concerned-it-s-considered-passe-for-playwrights/) [Ethel Merman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-merman/) > [I don't like to read. The only things I read are gossip columns. If someone gives me a book, it had better have lots…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-merman/i-don-t-like-to-read-the-only-things-i-read-are-gossip-columns-if/) [Ethel Merman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-merman/) > [I told her that there was something about Christmas carols that always brought tears to my eyes. I added that I also cry at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-merman/i-told-her-that-there-was-something-about-christmas-carols-that/) [Ethel Merman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-merman/) [Explore all 59 Ethel Merman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-merman/) ## More Life quotes > [Of all the people who have affected my life and influenced the choices I've made, none has been more important than my father. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-atlas/of-all-the-people-who-have-affected-my-life-and-influenced-the/) [Teddy Atlas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-atlas/) > [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life works most perfectly when a reciprocal love relationship is in place between man and God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/life-works-most-perfectly-when-a-reciprocal-love-relationship-is-in/) [Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/) > [I value the experiences that come with life too much to sit by and not put my full effort into them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-miller/i-value-the-experiences-that-come-with-life-too-much-to-sit-by-and/) [Jim Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-miller/) > [Entertainment is a sacred pursuit when done well. When done well, it raises the quality of human life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/entertainment-is-a-sacred-pursuit-when-done-well-when-done-well-it/) [Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) > [“There's more to life than you can see. Your sight is limited.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammy-kling/there-s-more-to-life-than-you-can-see-your-sight-is-limited/) [Tammy Kling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammy-kling/) > [“I've spent much of my life calling my intuition "something wrong with me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deanna-l-lawlis/i-ve-spent-much-of-my-life-calling-my-intuition-something-wrong-with/) Deanna L. Lawlis > [When you do things they're absolutely right at that time for you and it can always teach you something about yourself. You can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kym-marsh/when-you-do-things-they-re-absolutely-right-at-that-time-for-you-and/) [Kym Marsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kym-marsh/) > [The only people who think the Internet is a calamity are people whose lives have been hurt by it; the only people who insist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-klosterman/the-only-people-who-think-the-internet-is-a-calamity-are-people-whose/) [Chuck Klosterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-klosterman/) > [The one thing that I keep learning over and over again is that I don't know nothing. I mean, that's my life lesson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-johnson/the-one-thing-that-i-keep-learning-over-and-over-again-is-that-i-don/) [Dwayne Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-johnson/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The future is only an indifferent void no one cares about, but the past is filled with life, and its countenance is irritating, repellent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/the-future-is-only-an-indifferent-void-no-one-cares-about-but-the/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [Two things revolutionised life: moving to the countryside and falling in love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-love/two-things-revolutionised-life-moving-to-the-countryside-and-falling/) [Nick Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-love/) > [But just remember, life without me would be even more unbearable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-rice/but-just-remember-life-without-me-would-be-even-more-unbearable/) [Anne Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-rice/) [Browse all 265,290 Life quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I wouldn't change one thing about my professional life, and I make it a point not to dwell on my mistakes", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ethel Merman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-merman/i-wouldn-t-change-one-thing-about-my-professional-life-and-i-make-it/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Life" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-merman/i-wouldn-t-change-one-thing-about-my-professional-life-and-i-make-it/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1e/ethel-merman-11612_life_i-wouldn-t-change-one-thing-about-my-pro_2177459.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1e/ethel-merman-11612_life_i-wouldn-t-change-one-thing-about-my-pro_2177459.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1e/ethel-merman-11612_life_i-wouldn-t-change-one-thing-about-my-pro_2177459.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I wouldn't change one thing about my professional life, and I make it a point not to dwell on my mistakes” — Ethel Merman", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ethel Merman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-merman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I wouldn't change one thing about...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-merman/i-wouldn-t-change-one-thing-about-my-professional-life-and-i-make-it/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-merman/i-wouldn-t-change-one-thing-about-my-professional-life-and-i-make-it/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```